Past, Present, Future: 2018 and 2019 in Review

Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019! We salute the games of last year that made a lasting impact and embrace what’s to come.

But let’s look at who caught out attention this last year for 2018.

The games with potential and new styles of game play

These titles challenged what was possible with unique visuals, styles, and creatively written plot. As the gaming world dives more into story rich game play and the potential of VR, we have the pleasure of watching its evolution.

Detroit: Become Human (PS4)

Beat Saber (PS4, PC)

Spider-Man (PS4)

Subnautica (PC)

Into the Breach (Switch, PC)

The games with “WOW” factor

At first look, all we could do was stare and say “Um, WOW!” Once we got out hands on our controllers, we then got sucked into amazing visuals, neat mechanics, and fun and memorable characters. These games gave us the feeling it can only get better from here.

Monster Hunter: World (PS4, XBox One, PC)

Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4, XBox One)

Far Cry 5 (PC, XBox, PS4)

Forza Horizon 4 (XBox One, PC)

Games with “Beef”

Most fighting and action games need a certain structure to hold up to gamers needs. These games, along with their franchises, more than hold up a steady foundation of quality fun. And let’s face it; being a god and a dad is kind of fun.

Assasin’s Creed: Odyssey

God of War 3 (PS4)

Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Switch)

Hitman 2

Frostpunk

The games that are half baked and need more time in the oven

We get it: development isn’t easy, and having corporate scrape on budget and push deadlines can make creating a pinnacle game comparable to the trials of Hercules. However, with bugs, bad ideas, frustrating mechanics, and disappointment in quality, these games should have gotten more time in the creation oven to cook all the way through.

Fallout 76

Metal Gear Survive

Fear Effect Sedna

Agony (the title accurately describes the game
play).

The games that won out hearts

Not only are these games great, they are heartwarming and innocent fun that adds more to their respective predecessors. Turns out you can teach an old Pikachu new tricks!

Ni No Kuni II (PS4, PC)

Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee (Switch)

Overcooked 2 (EVERYONE)

Game Hero of 2018: Nintendo’s Switch Cloud

Not only is it a package deal for keeping your games backed up, allowing online play with friends anywhere, and offering many nostalgic titles, Nintendo is doing what most console company’s fear: keeping subscriptions affordable.

Game Villain of 2018: EA and others that go the micro transaction route.

Enough said, really. Paying to win is a crime on more than one level. We want to support good game development, but micro transaction’s support corporate, not the creators themselves. I’d love to see this change, but have high doubts it will thanks to basic psychology on addiction and fulfillment.

What are we excited about? Well, most games on this list, but we’ll narrow it down. For Switch, there is the improved (and heavily memed about) Super Mario Bros U Deluxe which adds to the classic Wii U game different levels, items, and characters to play as.

After years of being on hiatus and thanks to crowd funding, ToeJam and Earl return! ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Grooverevives the classic 90’s alien characters as they make their debut on Switch and PC. No longer held back by 2D technology, this revival is just as colorful and upbeat as the original but with a new scope on 3D gameplay.

The experimental games have us glued on their amazing visuals, and the two that have puled us in the most are Anthemand Daemon X Machina.Though there is not munch info on Nintendo and Marvelous’s mech project DXM, the combination of cell shading and 3D (similar to Borderlands franchise) makes it’s world and characters POP. As for Anthem, it will be the open world game with a different view as Space, not a world per se, is your frontier to explore. Using the Frostbite 3 Engine, BioWare is digging in on this one.

Most games on this list are sequels and prequels, but one in particular from previews has us oddly ecstatic despite no solid release date. For it’s visual splendor alone, Yoshi’s Crafted World has us impatient to play for what is sure to be a game changer for Nintendo and show off the capabilities of the Switch console.

And finally, I have to say it. It’s been 13 years since the last one was released. It has been stuck everywhere in corporate negotiations and development hell m but at last it is coming. Kingdom Hearts 3, we hope, is just as good as the rest of the series if not the best one that’s ever been despite Disney’s marketing push. Because Disney love’s their branding and your money. Despite me despising Disney’s current corporate ideology and CEO, I am hoping that this game lives up to the hype. It’s been WAY too long.

So readers, what are YOU most excited for on this release list? What games are you exited for that isn’t on the list? And are there any rumored games in development you wish would hurry up (like BORDERLANDS 3?). Leave a comment if you know something we don’t! We here at Hyrule Herald wish you a great New Year. Happy Gaming!